DIET AND LIFESTYLE REGIMEN FOR VARSHA RITU (MONSOON SEASON)

Ayurveda, the eternal science of life, has a way of making things more accessible for people. Ayurveda promotes the ideas of Dinacharya (daily regimen) and Ritucharya, reflecting the diversity of theories and principles that the science of health offers for achieving a state of physical and mental well-being. Among these practices in Ritucharya, which is crucial for facilitating the adaptation of seasonal regulations without compromising body homeostasis. In the ancient classics of Ayurveda, various seasons and the regimen one must adapt to remain healthy, irrespective of them, are mentioned. In Ayurvedic classics, the seasons or Ritus have been divided into six, namely, Shishir Ritu (Late Winter), Vasant Ritu (Spring), Greeshma Ritu (Summer), Varsha Ritu (Monsoon), Sharad Ritu (Autumn) and Hemant Ritu (Early Winter). Among them, you merely have to follow the dietary and behavioural patterns mentioned in Varsha Ritu (Monsoon season) to remain fit as a fiddle. According to Ayurve-da, Vata Dosha is the indistinct energy correlated with the governance of breathing, blinking, movement of the muscles & tissues, the heartbeat and, in short, the overall movement of the body, including the flow of thoughts. When in balance, Vata aids in ingenuity and resilience. However, being out of balance engenders panic and ap-prehension. During the Varsha Ritu, Vata Dosha aggravates, which causes Mandagni or impeded digestive pow-er, decreased immunity and a weakened body. The impaired digestive system begets Ama, the root of many dis-eases. Another Dosha which plays a part in Varsha Ritu is Pitta. It generally deals with metabolic processes to effectuate heat and energy. The dietary and behavioural aspects are to be controlled to balance the Vata & Pitta Doshas and keep them free from diseases. Thus, one should follow the diet and lifestyle modification according to season to remain healthy or disease-free, which also helps boost immunity.